A public health outbreak management framework applied to surges in opioid overdoses.

A public health outbreak management framework applied to surges in opioid overdoses.
J Opioid Manag. 2017 Sep/Oct;13(5):273-281
Authors: Moore K, Boulet M, Lew J, Papadomanolakis-Pakis N
Abstract
Over the past decade, Canada and the United States have been facing an epidemic of harms from prescription opioids. More recently, opioid-naïve individuals have been exposed to illicit opioids through adulterated combination products. This has resulted in sudden surges of opioid-related mortality. A proactive public health solution is needed to prevent further death. We propose examining these surges in opioid overdoses as outbreaks and investigating them in a similar way to an outbreak of an infectious disease. An epidemiologic investigation model for opioid overdose outbreaks, that could be modified by other public health agencies, is discussed.
PMID: 29199393 [PubMed - in process]

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Abstract
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